sarah tew photography

Melissa & Ben are a sweet Brooklyn couple who met during their time at Vassar College.  For their wedding they chose the Rhinecliff Hotel up in the Hudson River Valley and guests enjoyed a weekend celebration in the quaint town a few hours from the city.  With a view out to the river and a charming old train station right in front of the hotel, I had plenty to work with for their pictures.  I started with Melissa and her bridesmaids getting ready upstairs in one of the rooms while my assistant shot Ben and the fellas downstairs.  We had picked out a spot for their first look where they’d see eachother for the first time, and then jumped into the pictures with them and their wedding party.  I loved getting to utilize this beautiful train station– the stairs, the railroad tracks, it was all great for pictures!  After a batch of family group pictures up on the green guests settled in for the ceremony.  Melissa is a lawyer and fittingly they had Melissa’s aunt, who is a Judge, be the officiant– she did a marvelous job and the ceremony was moving and sweet, complete with vows the couple wrote themselves.  Highlights of this wedding included some live musical performance by the best man, a lively Vassar alumni picture, and of course as always I loved hearing the toasts, which, whether funny or serious and moving are always just a real treat to hear.  I was so honored to be the photographer for this great couple– Congratulations to Melissa & Ben!